Meter box cover assembly with protective cover plate

ABSTRACT

A meter box cover assembly for use with an electricity meter socket box when the electricity meter is removed and which has an annular flange that fits against a corresponding flange on an electricity meter when it is in place. The cover assembly comprises a cover plate for insertion over the opening in the socket box and against the outer surface of the annular flange of the box, and a locking bracket extending from one edge of the cover plate and arranged to extend under and grip the rear surface of the flange of the socket box. A slot is formed in the cover plate on the opposite side of the cover plate from the locking bracket and a keeper element is inserted about an arc of the flange and the cover plate is inserted over the keeper element. The portion of the keeper element protruding through the cover plate receives a lock, or similar fastening means, to prevent the cover assembly from being removed from the socket box or the socket box being illegally connected for use.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Clifford E. Sloop 2230 10th St.,Columbus, Ga. 31906 211 Appl. No. 799,190 [22] Filed Feb. 14, 1969 [45]Patented July 6, 1971 Continuation-impart 0! application Ser. No.678,975, Oct. 30, 1967 now Patent No. 3.440.330-

[54] METER BOX COVER ASSEMBLY WITH 3/1964 Fisher 1/1959 Davis PrimaryExaminer Lewis H. Myers Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. TolinAttorney-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby ABSTRACT: A meter box cover assemblyfor use with an electricity meter socket box when the electricity meteris removed and which has an annular flange that fits against a cor- Iresponding flange on an electricity meter when it is in place. The coverassembly comprises a cover plate for insertion over the opening in thesocket box and against the outer surface of the annular flange of thebox, and a locking bracket extending from one edge of the cover plateand arranged to extend under and grip the rear surface of the flange ofthe socket box. A slot is formed in the cover plate on the opposite sideof the cover plate from the locking bracket and a keeper element isinserted about an arc of the flange and the cover plate is inserted overthe keeper element. The portion of the keeper element protruding throughthe cover plate receives a lock, or similar fastening means, to preventthe cover assembly from being removed from the socket box or the socketbox being illegally connected for use.

PATENTEUJUL e197: 359L835 sum 2 [1F 2 Q/FFQ/PM 5100/ METER BOX COVERASSEMBLY WITH PROTECTIVE COVER PLATE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication, Ser. No. 678,975, filed Oct. 30, 1967, now Pat. No.3,440,330, for Meter Box Locking Assembly."

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Since about 1930, electricity utilitycompanies have utilized electricity meters to measure the flow ofelectricity which comprise a socket box or housing and a meter unitwhich is plugged into the socket box. The socket box may vary inconstruction but always includes a radially outwardly extending annularflange that usually extends away from this wall upon which the socketbox is mounted, and which abuts the enlarged circular base of the meterunit.

In recent years, the use of electricity has increased in homes and inindustry so that the bill for electricity service in the average homehas increased from an average of about $3.00 per month in 1930 to thecurrent average of about $20.00 per month. The machine billing systemsnow used by utility companies is such that 2 or 3 months of billings maygo unpaid before the service to a home is disconnected. After theservice has been disconnected, many customers reconnect their servicethemselves without authorization and continue to use the service withoutpaying for it or paying for the service previously used. Frequently,these customers will move to another location after reconnecting theirservice, and it is difficult for the utility company to discover theillegal reconnect of the location of the customer. When the customer hasmoved to a new location, he may apply for and obtain electrical serviceunder another name.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a meter socket boxcover assembly which has sturdy and rigid construction to preventunauthorized connection of the service from the socket box when a meterunit is not installed. The cover assembly includes a cover plate, and alocking bracket extending from one edge of the cover plate for insertionabout an arc of the annular flange of a socket box. A keeper element isprovided for insertion about the annular flange of the socket box at aposition about the annular flange opposite from the locking bracket ofthe cover plate. A protruding portion of the keeper element is insertedthrough the cover plate, and a lock or similar securing device isconnected to the protruding portion of the keeper element to secure thelocking assembly in place.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a meter socket boxcover assembly which prevents unauthorized connection or reconnectionofelectricity meters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a meter socket box coverassembly which is simple in construction, easily attached to a socketbox, fits the standard socket box and which is difficult to removewithout a key.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective viewof a socket box, and the cover assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled socket box and the coverassembly;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a circular socket box, showing thecover assembly in cross section, as the cover plate is pivoted intoposition, and the keeper in exploded position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a rectangular socket box, showingthe cover assembly in cross section;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover plate, with parts broken away,and the keeper element;

FIG. 6-is a front elevational view of the keeper element, showingthelower portion of the annular flange of the socket box indotted'lines;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of theinvention; and,

FIG. 8 is another exploded perspective view of the cover assembly ofFIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to thedrawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout theseveral views, FIG. I shows a meter housing or socket box 11, coverplate 14, and keeper 15. The socket box 11 is of conventionalconstruction.

Socket box 11 includes a front face 20 which defines a central aperture21. Neck 22 extends outwardly about aperture 21 and terminates inradially extending annular flange 24. Annular flange 24 includes anabutting surface 25, a peripheral edge 26, and a rear surface (notshown). The diameter of annular flange 24 is approximately equal to thediameter of the circular base of an electricity meter (not shown). whenthe meter is connected to socket box 11, its studs are inserted into thejaws of the socket box, and its circular base is placed in abuttingrelationship with annular flange 24 of socket box 11.

As is shown in FIG. 5, cover plate 14 includes a flat plate 35. The sideedges of plate 35 terminate in rearwardly turned sidewalls 40 and 41while the bottom edge terminates in rearwardly turned bottom wall 42.The upper edge of plate 35 terminates in an L-shaped bracket 44 whichincludes rearwardly turned spacer wall 45 and downwardly turned grippingwall 46. Sidewalls 40 and 41, bottom wall 42 and spacer wall 45 allextend substantially perpendicular to the plane of plate 35 and areconnected'together at their common edges 48, 49, 50, and 51. Grippingwall 46 is connected at its ends to the bottom edge of sidewalls 40 and41, at 52 and 53. Thus, cover plate 14 is rigidly constructed, even whenfabricated of relatively light metal.

Plate 35 includes slot 55 which extends upwardly from bottom wall 42.Slot 55 is formed so that it extends in alignment with the axis ofaperture 21, and is on the side of plate 350pposite from L-shapedbracket 44.

Keeper 15 includes keeper plate 56, spacer bracket 58, and locking tab59. Keeper plate 56 has an arcuate edge 60 which has a radius ofcurvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the outsidesurface of neck 22 of socket box 11. Spacer bracket 58 is U-shaped andincludes legs 61 and 62 which are connected to keeper plate 56 adjacentits side edges 63 and 64, and base leg 65 which is maintained in spacedrelationship with respect to keeper plate 56. Thus, space 66 is definedby keeper plate 56 and spacer bracket 58. Space 66 extends over asubstantial width of keeper plate 56 so that legs 61 and 62 of spacerbracket 58 are displaced from arcuate edge 60 of keeper plate 56, yetarcuate edge 60 curves toward the plane of the upper edge 68 of thespacer bracket 58. Locking tab 59 is located centrally of spacer bracket58 and defines laterally extending aperture 69. The lower edge 70 oflocking tab 59 is rounded and merges into the outer edge 71 so as toform a curved surface.

A U-shaped security member 72 is attached to the front of the plate 35and extends across the slot 55 and spaced thereabove so that when theshank of a lock L is positioned through the aperture 69 in the lockingtab 59 when the cover plate 14 is in position, the shank of the lock Lwill be covered. This prevents sawing or severing the lock L so that thecover assembly can be removed without unlocking lock L. The member 72defines a space 74 of sufflcient size between it and the plate 35 topermit the lock L to be installed. Top wall 75 prevents entry from thetop of member 72.

It will be noted that plate 35 is wider than the maximum dimension offlange 24 so that sidewalls 40 and 41 extend back past the flange 24closely adjacent thereto. This prevents a user of electricity fromentering the housing 11 to connect with the electricity source evenwhile the cover assembly is in place.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 7 and 8, in the drawing, thesecond embodiment of the cover assembly includes a cover plate 114 and akeeper 115. The second embodiment is also used with the socket box 11 ofconventional construction with the same elements as that used with thefirst embodiment of the cover assembly.

As is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, cover plate 114 includes a flat plate 135.The side edges of plate 135 terminate in rearwardly turned sidewalls 140and 141 while the bottom edge terminates in rearwardly turned bottomwall 142. The upper edge of plate 35 terminates in a rearwardly turnedtop wall 145. Sidewalls 140 and 141, bottom wall 142 and top wall 145all extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of plate 135 and areconnected together at their common edges 148, 149, 150, and 151. Thus,cover plate 114 is rigidly constructed, even when fabricated ofrelatively light metal.

Plate 135 includes slot 155 which extends upwardly from bottom wall 142.Slot 155 is formed so that it extends in alignment with the axis ofaperture 21, and is on the side of plate 135 opposite top wall 45 andbracket 110.

- A U-shaped gripping bracket 110 is provided just under the top wall145 for receipt over the flange 24 of the socket box 11. The bracket 110includes central web portion 112; a pair of spacer legs 116, one on eachend of the web portion 112; and a mounting lug 118 on each leg 116opposite the web portion 112. The lugs 118 are attached to the innersurface of cover plate 114 and thus position the web portion 112 awayfrom the inner surface of plate 135 sufficiently far for a portion ofthe flange 24 to be received between plate 135 and web portion 112. Thelowermost edge 129 of the web portion 112 is curved to conform to theneck 22 of socket box 11. This serves to increase the holdingcapabilities of the cover assembly.

Keeper 115 includes keeper plate 156, spacer bracket 158, and lockingtab 159. Keeper plate 156 has an arcuate edge 150 which has a radius ofcurvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the outsidesurface of neck 22 of socket box 11. Plate 156 is U-shaped and includeslegs 161 and 162 which are connected to spacer bracket 158 adjacent itsside edges 163 and 164, and base leg 165 which is maintained in spacedrelationship with respect to keeper plate 156. Thus, space 166 isdefined by keeper plate 156 and spacer bracket 158. Space 166 extendsover a substantial width of keeper plate 156 so that legs 161 and 162 ofplate 156 are displaced from arcuate edge 160 of keeper plate 156, yetarcuate edge 160 curves toward the plane of the upper edge 168 ofthespacer bracket 158. The width of base leg 165 is substantially equal tothe maximum width of keeper plate 156 so that the flange 24 is receivedbetween bracket 158 and leg 165 to firmly lock the cover assembly tosocket box 11.

Locking tab 159 is located centrally of spacer bracket 158 and defineslaterally extending aperture 169. The lower edge 170 of locking tab 159is rounded and merges into the outer edge 171 so as to form a curvedsurface.

A U-shaped security member 172 is attached to the front of the plate 135as with the first embodiment of the cover assembly and extends acrossthe slot 155 and spaced thereabove so that when the shank of a lock L ispositioned through the aperture 169 in the locking tab 159 when thecover plate 144 is in position, the shank of the lock L will be covered.This prevents sawing or severing the shank of lock L so that the coverassembly can be removed without. unlocking lock L. The member 172defines a space 174 of sufficient size between it and the plate 135 topermit the lock L to be installed. Top wall 175 prevents entry from thetop of member 172.

OPERATION In operation, the cover assembly is installed on the socketbox 11 when the electricity meter (not shown) is not in place. The coverplate 14 is installed by placing the gripping wall 46 of the L-shapedbracket 44 behind the annular flange 24 and pivoting the cover plate 14over the aperture 21 of the box 11.

When cover plate 14 has been moved in a downward direction so that itsL-shaped bracket 44 grips the rear surface of annular flange 25, as isshown in FIG. 3, the lower portion of cover plate 14 is pivoted awayfrom flange 24 of box 11, and keeper 15 is positioned about an arc ofannular flange 24 opposite that portion engaged by L-shaped bracket 44of cover plate 14.

Cover plate 14 is then pivoted to the'position as shown in FIG. 4,whereupon locking tab 59 of keeper 15 extends through slot 55 of coverplate 14. Bottom wall 42 of cover plate 14 maintains keeper 15 properlypositioned about the lower arc of the flange 24, and lock L is insertedthrough aperture 69 of locking tab 59 to prevent cover plate 14 frombeing removed from meter 10. The curvature of lower and outer edges70.and 71 of locking tab 59 is such that it urges cover plate 14 in adownward direction as it is pivoted over keeper 15, or urges keeper 15in an upward direction, so that keeper 15 and cover plate 14 positivelygrip the flange 24 of socket box 11; Furthermore, the cover assembly 13can be utilized with both circular socket boxes (FIG. 3) or rectangularsocket boxes (FIG. 4) the only requisite being that the conventionalradially extending flange abut the circular base of the meter.

The second embodiment of the invention is installed in the same manneras the first embodiment thereof. The'cover plate 114 is positioned sothat the curved edge 129 of bracket fits behind the flange24 of socketbox. 11. The keeper is positioned opposite bracket 110-so that thearcuate edge fits behind the flange 24 and the base leg fits over theflange 24.

Cover plate 114 is then pivoted into position so that locking tab 159extends through slot 155. The lock L is inserted through aperture 169 tolock the cover assembly in place.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating thepresent invention.

Iclaim:

1. The combination with a socket housing having an outwardly extendingannular mounting flange, said flange having substantially flat front andrear surfaces of the type utilized with an electricity measuring meterused in a dwelling, of a cover assembly including a cover plate, oneedge of said cover plate having an L-shaped bracket which includes aspacer wall of a length generally equal to the width of the mountingflange of the socket housing, extending generally normal to the coverplate and a gripping wall extending back toward and generally parallelto the cover plate, said cover assembly being mounted on the sockethousing with the cover plate in engagement with the front surface of themounting flange, the spacer wall engaging the edge of the flange and thegripper wall engaging the rear surface of the flange, a keeper includinga keeper plate and an apertured insertion member maintained inperpendicular spaced relation therefrom, said keeper plate engaging anarc of the rear surface of the mounting flange at a point removed fromthe point of engagement of the L-shaped bracket with the rear face ofthe flange and said insertion member projecting beyond the front surfaceof the mounting flange, a slot in the cover plate in which saidinsertion member is received, and an inwardly turned wall on the edge ofthe cover plate adjacent the keeper, said wall covering the outer edgeof the keeper plate and serving to hold the parts in assembled position.

2. The combination with a socket housing having an outwardly extendingannular mounting flange of the type utilized with an electricitymeasuring meter used in a dwelling, said mounting flange havingsubstantially flat front and rear surfaces, of a cover assemblyincluding a cover plate, said cover plate including at one edge anL-shaped bracket which includes a spacer wall, of a length generallyequal to the width of the said mounting flange, extending generallynormal to the cover plate, and a gripping wall extending back toward andgenerally parallel to the cover plate, said cover plate being placedover the front surface of said mounting flange and said gripping wallengaging the rear surface of said flange over an arc thereof; saidcombination further including a keeper plate and an apertured insertionmember maintained in perpendicular spaced position relative to saidkeeper plate, said keeper plate being inserted behind an arc of saidmounting flange at a position approximately 180 about the socket housingfrom said L-shaped bracket, the cover plate being provided at its edgeopposite said L-shaped bracket with a slot, said insertion member beingreceived in said slot, and the cover plate also having an inwardlyturned wall along its last-mentioned edge, said wall fitting over saidkeeper and holding the parts in assembled condition.

3. The invention of claim 2 further including a security member attachedto said cover plate and defining a space between said cover and securitymember over said slot.

1 4. The combination with a socket housing for use with a meter of thetype utilized to measure the flow of electricity to a dwelling, saidhousing having a radially extending annular flange including front andrear surfaces, of a cover assembly including a cover plate positionedagainst the front surface of said annular flange and having an L-shapedbracket extending over an arc of the flange and engaging the rearsurface of the flange over such are, said combination further includinga keeper including a keeper plate having an arcuate edge engaging an arcof the rear surface of said flange at a point approximately from thepoint at which said flange is engaged by the L-shaped bracket, saidkeeper further including an insertion member projecting from the keeper,and said cover member being provided with a slot in which the insertionmember is received, and with an inwardly turned wall on its edgeopposite to that on which said L-shaped bracket is located, said wallfitting over the keeper and holding the parts in assembled position.

5. The combination of claim 4 further including a security memberattached to said cover plate and defining a space between said coverplate and security member over said slot.

1. The combination with a socket housing having an outwardly extendingannular mounting flange, said flange having substantially flat front andrear surfaces of the type utilized with an electricity measuring meterused in a dwelling, of a cover assembly including a cover plate, oneedge of said cover plate having an L-shaped bracket which includes aspacer wall of a length generally equal to the width of the mountingflange of the socket housing, extending generally normal to the coverplate and a gripping wall extending back toward and generally parallelto the cover plate, said cover assembly being mounted on the sockethousing with the cover plate in engagement with the front surface of themounting flange, the spacer wall engaging the edge of the flange and thegripper wall engaging the rear surface of the flange, a keeper includinga keeper plate and an apertured insertion member maintained inperpendicular spaced relation therefrom, said keeper plate engaging anarc of the rear surface of the mounting flange at a point removed fromthe point of engagement of the L-shaped bracket with the rear face ofthe flange and said insertion member projecting beyond the front surfaceof the mounting flange, a slot in the cover plate in which saidinsertion member is received, and an inwardly turned wall on the edge ofthe cover plate adjacent the keeper, said wall covering the outer edgeof the keeper plate and serving to hold the parts in assembled position.2. The combination with a socket housing having an outwardly extendingannular mounting flange of the type utilized with an electricitymeasuring meter used in a dwelling, said mounting flange havingsubstantially flat front and rear surfaces, of a cover assemblyincluding a cover plate, said cover plate including at one edge anL-shaped bracket which includes a spacer wall, of a length generallyequal to the width of the said mounting flange, extending generallynormal to the cover plate, and a gripping wall extending back toward andgenerally parallel to the cover plate, said cover plate being placedover the front surface of said mounting flange and said gripping wallengaging the rear surface of said flange over an arc thereof; saidcombination further including a keeper plate and an apertured insertionmember maintained in perpendicular spaced position relative to saidkeeper plate, said keeper plate being inserted behind an arc of saidmounting flange at a position approximately 180* about the sockethousing from said L-shaped bracket, the cover plate being provided atits edge opposite said L-shaped bracket with a slot, said insertionmember being received in said slot, and the cover plate also having aninwardly turned wall along its last-mentioned edge, said wall fittingover said keeper and holding the parts in assembled condition.
 3. Theinvention of claim 2 further including a security member attached tosaid cover plate and defining a space between said cover and securitymember over said slot.
 4. The combination with a socket housing for usewith a meter of the type utilized to measure the flow of electricity toa dwelling, said housing having a radially extending annular flangeincluding front and rear surfaces, of a cover assembly including a coverplate positioned against the front surface of said annular flange andhaving an L-shaped bracket extending over an arc of the flange andengaging the rear surface of the flange over such arc, said combinationfurther including a keeper including a keeper plate having an arcuateedge engaging an arc of the rear surface of said flange at a pointapproximately 180* from the point at which said flange is engaged by theL-shaped bracket, said keeper further including an insertion memberprojecting from the keeper, and said cover member being provided with aslot in which the insertion member is received, and with an inwardlyturned wall on its edge opposite to that on which said L-shaped bracketis located, said wall fitting over the keeper and holding the parts inassembled position.
 5. The combination of claim 4 further including asecurity member attached to said cover plate and defining a spacebetween said cover plate and security member over said slot.